Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Talk to me about real life outside London

760 replies

Herewegoagain84 · 25/02/2022 13:36

We’re considering the big move out. I’ve been a Londoner all my life and always considered I would stay, but I’ve got a third child cooking and I think it’s time. I know it sounds mad but I’d love to hear what your life outside London is like - especially with children at the weekend. We have everything so accessible to us here and always plenty to do. Can you talk me through how we might be spending our time and what activities you do / how weekends are spent? If you lived in London previously was it a good decision to move? Thanks!

OP posts:
merrymouse · 27/02/2022 09:08

I’m baffled as to why so many are being rude or sarcastic in regard to the question . Life outside of a major city will be different .

I’m baffled why you are baffled.

I lived in London for the first forty years of my life and have lived 100 miles away for 10 years, but I really don’t think my patch of known London (about 5 square miles) is representative of all of London or that where I live now represents ‘outside London’.

cakeorwine · 27/02/2022 09:09

Slightly off the general topic, but on the ‘finding specific products’ issue - you do get very spoilt for choice in London because of the massive mix of cultures. I live in an area with a lot of Greek and Turkish people, and also a big Jewish population, so we have a range of specialist food shops here. There are definitely a lot of products you wouldn’t find many other places in the UK, other than perhaps other big cities

10 minutes drive away is an area with a big African and Caribbean population, so again, the range of imported fruit & veg, spices and seasonings, even the meat in the butchers, is very different to what you’d get in Tesco

Ever been to the big cities up North?

Leeds, Manchester, Bradford?

There are also areas of these cities where you can get similar foods as people from such backgrounds have settled there.

FizzyBizz · 27/02/2022 09:10

@cakeorwine

Slightly off the general topic, but on the ‘finding specific products’ issue - you do get very spoilt for choice in London because of the massive mix of cultures. I live in an area with a lot of Greek and Turkish people, and also a big Jewish population, so we have a range of specialist food shops here. There are definitely a lot of products you wouldn’t find many other places in the UK, other than perhaps other big cities

10 minutes drive away is an area with a big African and Caribbean population, so again, the range of imported fruit & veg, spices and seasonings, even the meat in the butchers, is very different to what you’d get in Tesco

Ever been to the big cities up North?

Leeds, Manchester, Bradford?

There are also areas of these cities where you can get similar foods as people from such backgrounds have settled there.

I did say ‘other than big cities’.

I assumed the OP was thinking about living more rurally or in a small town. Maybe wrongly.

Legoisthebest · 27/02/2022 09:11

Maireas Grin

JoanThursday · 27/02/2022 09:12

@cakeorwine I lived on Bishy Road 30-odd years ago before it was all gentrified. Loads of poky bedsits and not an F&B front door in sight. Haricot beans?? Couldn't get that from Beejays on the corner of Scarky Road! Grin

FizzyBizz · 27/02/2022 09:12

Also, although I really like Leeds and Manchester (great cities) they just aren’t comparable to London. They’re tiny compared to it. There isn’t anywhere in London that’s as big and varied. That’s just a fact the OP will have to accept if she leaves.

(I’m grappling with that myself).

QueenBee70 · 27/02/2022 09:13

@Herewegoagain84

There are a lot of useful replies on here - thank you! Of course I realise London is a ridiculous bubble, but it definitely makes you feel like you’re jumping off a ledge by leaving - even though I rationally know that won’t be the case. I guess the thread also highlights peoples’ hostility towards Londoners too perhaps! Our children are 2 and 5 (with one on the way) - I imagine moving out more rurally and having much more space, especially outdoors, but perhaps near enough to a town that it doesn’t feel entirely isolated. Any recommendations for family friendly areas (with all the activities mentioned Wink and good schools) very welcome!
There are lots of nice villages around Essex that will still offer you access to London .
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 27/02/2022 09:13

Actually I have been having trouble getting blackcurrant jelly recently in my Yorkshire town and had to stock up while in London visiting my parents...

And since moving from Lincolnshire to Yorkshire last year DD and DH have been missing two very specific specialist food shops... one produced a specific tea blend and the other sold Biltong. So if you are used to a certain specialist item moving away can create longing.

(Our bank account doesn't miss living near the Biltong shop as that stuff is expensive!)

FizzyBizz · 27/02/2022 09:13

I meant anywhere in the UK that’s as big and varied as London!

mewkins · 27/02/2022 09:14

Hi OP,

I'm more sympathetic to your question. You are living in a huge city with loads happening on your doorstep and that's all you've ever known. I grew up in London in the 80s and while things weren't as kid friendly then I spent a lot of time going into central London for museums and then shopping etc when older. I live in a commuter town outside London and have for years and have brought kids up here. I recommend a place with it's own community. Those with good schools will have attracted many families and there will be plenty of sports and other kid activities available. There are few things I miss about London but being able to get home from a gig easily is pretty much it. Also you will notice the atmosphere. In London or any city really you can just walk around and it's interesting. Somewhere with fewer people...you have to search for things that are going on.

You may find it boring but I look at the life my kids are having as they grow up and ut is a lot safer and freer and happier than the childhood I had. Having space to grow is important. Also the world is MUCH more connected now.

buddylicious · 27/02/2022 09:14

I moved out of London in my 30s and still miss it!

cakeorwine · 27/02/2022 09:18

[quote JoanThursday]@cakeorwine I lived on Bishy Road 30-odd years ago before it was all gentrified. Loads of poky bedsits and not an F&B front door in sight. Haricot beans?? Couldn't get that from Beejays on the corner of Scarky Road! Grin[/quote]
It's changed. Just its own little oasis.

Or up its own arse, depending on where you stand Grin

Lightning020 · 27/02/2022 09:18

I just listen to LBC Radio a fair bit to keep up to date. The London lifestyle sucks after 25 years or at least that was my experience. It is the breadth of outlook I crave not the place anymore as such.

cakeorwine · 27/02/2022 09:19

Can you get Henderson's Relish in London?

AllOfMyLove · 27/02/2022 09:28

@Maireas that made me laugh aloud!!!

TatianaBis · 27/02/2022 09:34

But Clapham is not representative of all of London and plenty of places outside London have well supplied local shops.

Well-supplied could mean anything. You can’t get the range of multicultural products outside cities.

Clapham is fairly representative of London, particularly of inner London.

PriamFarrl · 27/02/2022 09:35

@AllOfMyLove

“What are these basic ingredients that you can’t buy outside London?”

Wierdly, haricot beans in a tin… I know, I know, substitute it! Also tahini and short grain brown rice… hahah I could think of a few more but I think I may get some hate!!!

I’ve just looked and Waitrose has 4 different brands of tahini.
PriamFarrl · 27/02/2022 09:36

You would think, right?! I live near a fairly large coop and a sainsbury’s local. No luck. Went to the massive sainsbury’s in the next town. NOTHING!! So annoying!

You know you can buy cheap baked beans and rinse them, right?

PriamFarrl · 27/02/2022 09:37

@cakeorwine

Can you get Henderson's Relish in London?
I’m not in London and it’s tricky to get here. My local shop that sold it closed down.
ItsCanardBruv · 27/02/2022 09:39

I actually live on a Scottish island and have tahini, gochujang and freekeh in the cupboards and my village shop has a “weird and wonderful” section to rival any Waitrose - am I doing it wrong? Are we supposed to just be eating tatties and herring?

PriamFarrl · 27/02/2022 09:39

Can we have a list of things that according to this thread don’t exist outside London.

LGBT people (don’t tell Brighton or Hebden Bridge)
Traffic lights.
Any good food.
Takeaways
Haricot beans
Tahini
Brown rice

pairsinparis · 27/02/2022 09:41

We moved from Balham to York with 2 young DC.

I prefer York 1000%

A typical weekend for us looks like-
Wake up, walk down road to our fave coffee shop for breakfast. Back home for a bit. Into town later on, ten minute walk, one of the museums or gardens or soft play or swimming or walk the walls, or activities- there are so so many to choose from in this area. We will often break off then and have a bit of time each without the kids- I usually have a potter around the book shops and lovely delis and pick something up for dinner.

Sundays we either drive to the coast, just over an hour away and go in the rock pools and have an explore, or a walk in the moors or dales and stop at a lovely pub for lunch.

There's loads going on here all the time- two weeks ago it was York residents weekend with lots of freebies and half price food etc for residents. Next weekend it's York Ice trail- huge sculptures around the city to find. The week after that it's York restaurant week for residents with lots of offers on again. It's honestly great, can't say enough good things about it and absolutely not missing London at all (I really thought we would!)

pairsinparis · 27/02/2022 09:42

But I've never tried haricot beans and made my ow humous once and it wasn't as good as shop bought so have no need for tahini Grinyou do get scraps on yer chippy chips up here, though

TatianaBis · 27/02/2022 09:42

@PriamFarrl

Can we have a list of things that according to this thread don’t exist outside London.

LGBT people (don’t tell Brighton or Hebden Bridge)
Traffic lights.
Any good food.
Takeaways
Haricot beans
Tahini
Brown rice

Yes that’s correct, everyone thinks these things don’t exist outside London.
TatianaBis · 27/02/2022 09:45

I’ve just looked and Waitrose has 4 different brands of tahini.

Yes everywhere in this country has a local Waitrose.